Cairo: 24 February 2020
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has condemned the governor of Mecca Khaled al-Faisal’s ordering the arrest of the video production team of “Bint Mecca” or “Girl of Mecca” song that went viral on social media in Saudi Arabia. It asserts that arresting a group of young people just for posting a song exposes the policy of double standards practiced in the country.
In the evening of February 20, the official account of the Emirate of Makkah on Twitter announced that Prince Khaled bin Faisal of Mecca has ordered the arrest of those responsible for producing the “Bint Mecca” rap song, adding that the directive “included referring them to the competent authorities for investigation and imposing a penalty on them”. He alleges that the song “offends the customs and traditions of the people of Mecca and contradicts the identity and traditions of its esteemed population”.
The “Bint Mecca” rap song was released on YouTube on 13 February 2020, and shows a veiled black girl singing in a café in both Arabic and English, describing herself as a “girl from Mecca” praising women from the holy city as “powerful, generous and beautiful”. A group of young girls and youth of different ages wearing jeans also appear in the video dancing in the “break-dance” style of dance.
The video was released by a young rapper who identifies herself as Asayel Slay and hit 82,000 views on YouTube before it was deleted.
ANHRI said, “The same regime that tries to deceive the world with some open-mindedness allegations holding music concerts for male and female artists from all over the world, is now arresting Saudi young men and women for producing and posting a music video. This is indeed a flagrant example of the double standards policy.”
ANHRI wonders why those responsible for producing this rap song have been prosecuted. What was their guilt, and what did they do so that the café where they filmed their video was ordered to be closed?
ANHRI added, “We didn’t find any reason that might justify their arrest, except for the regime’s persistent hostility towards women and art. This is the true face of a regime that hates art, creativity and women.”
ANHRI called on the judicial authorities in Saudi Arabia to immediately release the “Bint Mecca” video production team. It also demands from the governor of Mecca to accept differences, open up to the latest developments on the ground, and grant Saudi citizens the right to freedom of creativity.
